Interconnecting means for control devices



April 24, 1951 R. H. wlNcKLER 2,550,314

INTERCONNECTING MEANS F'OR CONTROL. DEVICES Filed Dec. 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Shawll 1 @-ll- A@ m 5 El m m um 1 INVENTOR. RUBERT H. WINCKLER April 24, 1951 R. H. wlNcKLl-:R 2,550,314

INTERCONNECTING MEANS FOR CONTROL DEVICES Filed Dec. 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 24, 1951 INTERCONNECTING MEANS FOR CONTROL DEVICES Robert H. Winckler, Maplewood, N. J., assignor to Hardwick-Hindle, Inc., Newark, N. J.

Application December 28, 1945, Serial No. 637,727

17 Claims.

This invention relates to means for mounting and operating a plurality of devices or structures, in operative relationship. AIt is one of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement for mounting a plurality of devices or structures in such a manner that any one device or structure mayy be operated entirely independent of the other by a common control or operative means. By way of illustration but not of limitation, I have chosen to illustrate the application of my invention to the mounting of rheostats.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mounting of a plurality of rheostats which may be independently operated by common means but so engaged that a definite sequence of operation must be followed for the purposes which will be hereinafter pointed out.

It is another object of my invention to provide a construction in which the rheostats may be mounted in tandem but adapted to be connected in an electrical series arrangement thereby providing a greater resistance in a smaller arcuate space on a switch board or mounting than .would be required by a single rheostat to give the same electrical characteristics thereby conserving switch board or panel space. These and other objects will be clear to one familiar with these devices from a reading of the following specification taken in connection with the annexed drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 shows a pair of rheostats mounted in tandem relationship one rheostat being shown in elevation while the other is shown only part- Y ly in elevation with certain of the operating parts moved from their correct positions so as to illustrate a certain location of the operating shaft.

Figure 2 is a view of Figure 1 looking from right to left.

Figure 3 is a view of the central part of Figure 1 between the two rheostats but on an enlarged scale from that shown in Figure 1 certain of the parts being shown in section and part in elevation.

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the shaft ends shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of Figure 3 but with the parts shown in full.

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the members shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view on the line 'I-l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the key-plate shown in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the driving pin shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. Figure 10 is a diagrammatic arrangement showing one step in the electrical connections between the two rheostats.

Referring now to the drawings whereinlike numbers refer to corresponding parts A and B are two rheostats which are mounted in tandem relationship. The rheostat A has a mounting plate I connected to the mounting plate 2 of the rheostat B in a satisfactory manner as by one or more bars 3 held to the mounting plates I and 2 by screws and lock washers 4 and one or more spacing studs 5. The mounting plate 2 is adapted to be fastened to a support in a satisfactory manner as by mounting screws 6. Fastened to the mounting plate 2 as by means of a plurality of rivets or eyelets 1 is an arcuately formed insulator 8 preferably of ceramic material. Supported by the insulator 8 is an insulator 9 preferably of ceramic material on which is wound the resistance wire I0. A high heat resisting cement is used to hold the resistance unit composed of the insulator 9 and wire I0 to the insulator 8. The insulator 9 terminates in what may be referred to as an integral connecting yoke II which is adapted to have a plurality of through bolts I2 which pass through both yokes II `and the holes I3 in the mounting plate 2. The yoke part I I has an electrical stud I3 positioned therein. The stud I3 is used to fasten a U-shaped connector I4 to the yoke part II. Fastened to the connector I4 is a circularly wound flexible band I5 which is fastened to a suitable brush I6 preferably of the carbon metal type. The brush I6 is carried by an insulator Il preferably of the ceramic type. A spring I8 of suitable material such as chrome-vanadium is used to hold the brush I6 in contact with the brush track on the winding IU. A retaining Washer I 9 preferably of mica is utilized to assist in holding the brush I6 and spring I8 in operative positio-n. The in.- sulator Il has on its face va recess to receive a polygonally shaped 'metal plate 20. This plate ispreferably square and carries a plurality of studs 2|, two being illustrated in Figure 3. The studs 2| project into a block or ring 22 which in turn is fastened in any satisfactory manner as by one or more set screws 23 to a sleeve-like shaft member 24 that is supported by a bearing 25 preferably integral with and projecting from the mounting plate 2. The hollow shaft 24 is held in place in plate 2 by a split snap ring 26. A thrust spring 2l and washer 28 are utilized to hold the snap ring 26 against the end plate 2 to thereby take up any end play of the brush holder Il. I

The general construction of the rheostat A the same as that described with respect to rheostat B except its brush shaft 29 may not be hollow like the brush shaft 24 except at its inner end as defined by the broken line 30 (see Figure 4). This inner end of the brush shaft 29 has a transverse slot 3| therein and the brush shaft 24 has a similar slot 32 therein. These slots are adapted to receive a stud or pin 33 which is knurled at 34 in order to hold it securely close to the end of operating shaft 35 which is carried by the hollow shaft 24. The pin 33 as shown in Figure 3 has a long end 36 and a short end 31 projecting transversely from the operating shaft 35. The long end 36 of the pin 33 extends beyond the outer periphery of the brush shaft 24 while the short end 31 is positioned wholly within the opposite side of the slot 32. Carried on the brush shaft 24 is a disc 38 having a pair of lugs or fingers 39 and 40 projecting therefrom. From Figures 6 and 7 it will be seen that the lug 39 is further from the axial center of the disc than the lug 46. This is so the lug 39 will contact with the long end 36 of the pin 33 while the lug 40 is positioned within the slot 32 so as to contact with the short end 31 of the pin 33. Positioned between the disc 38 and the block 22 is a spring 4| the function of which will be directly pointed out. Carried on the end of the brush shaft 29 of rheostat A is a disc 42 which is identical with the disc 38 having the same lugs 39 and 40. Po-

sitioned between the disc 42 and a washer 43 is a spring 44 similar to the spring 4|. The washer 43 is held in operative position to the shaft 29 by a spring snap ring 45 that sits in a groove 54 in the shaft 29. Fastened to the end plate I of the rheostat A as by suitable screw studs 46 only one of which is shown in Figure 5, is a key plate 41 (see Figure 8). The plate 41 has holes 48` to receive the studs 46. The plate 47 also has a hole 49 therein to receive the closely adjacent ends of the brush shafts 24 and 29 as is shown in Figure 5. The plate 41 has a slot 50 therein opening into the hole 49 for the purpose of allowing the long end 36 of the pin 33 to pass therethrough as well as to allow entrance of the lugs 39 of the discs 38 and 42 to enter therein for the purposes which will be described in the operation of the rheostats by the control knob 5| fastened to the operating shaft 35 in any satisfactory manner as by a set screw 52 which is adapted to eni gage a flat surface 53 on the shaft 35.

Coming now to the operation of the rheostats and assuming the inter-engaging parts are in the position shown in Figure 1 it will be seen that the shaft 35 has been moved longitudinally so that the end 36 of the pin 33 is passed all the way through the slot in the key plate 41 and has entered the slot 3| in the end of the shaft 29. Also the ends of the pin 33 have engaged lugs 39 and 40 of the disc 42 thereby compressing the spring 44. Since the pin 33 is now clear from the key plate 41 the operating shaft 35 may be turned thereby turning the brush shaft 29 and its associate brush of the rheostat A so that this rheostat may be set to control an electrical circuit to the limit of its capacity. After the pin end 36 has moved out of alignment with the slot 5|! of the key plate 41 only the rheostat A can be caused to function and, if I prefer to make the winding I0 of rheostat A of lower resistance than the winding l0 of rheostat B, the rheostat A will carry a larger current which will diminish as its brush travels to the limit as shown in Figure l0 where the circuit terminals are indicated by the numerals 55 and 56.' It is in this maximum resistance position of rheostat A that is indicated in Figure l wherein the engagement of the operating shaft 35 is made with the brush shaft 29 as explained.

Now assuming that it is desired to cut in more resistance into the circuit the operating knob 5I is pulled in a direction away from the mounting plate 2 causing the pin 33 to move out of the slot 3| of the brush shaft 29 through the notch 50 of the key plate 41 and into the slot 32 of the brush shaft 24. At the same time the spring 44 forces the disc 42 toward the key plate so that the lug 39 will enter the slot 50 while the lug 40 still stays in the opposite side of the slot 3| thereby locking the brush shaft 29 of rheostat A in its full resistance position as indicated in Figure 10. As the pin 33 is moved to the right, looking at Figure l, it engages the corresponding lugs 39 and 49 on the disc 38 and compresses the spring 4| to function for the same purpose as the spring 44. When the above described engagement has been made by the hollow brush shaft 24, the brush I6 should be in the position of minimum resistance so that turning of the knob 5| will introduce more resistance into the circuit. f

To get back to rheostat A the brush shaft 24 must be turned back to the position indicated in Figure 10 so as to bring its slot 32 in alignment with the slot 3| of the brush shaft 29 whereby the operating shaft 35 may be moved into the position shown in Figure l.

From the above description it will be seenv that I have provided an interlocking or interconnecting arrangement such that the largest current utilized in rheostat A cannot be passed through rheostat B which cannot be introduced into the circuit until full resistance of rheostat A is included therein. Furthermore, rheostat B must be substantially cut out before the full-in position of the rheostat A can be changed.

While certain of the details of the construction may be varied, these variations should come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A plural rheostat mounting including a plurality of rheostats arranged in tandem relationship, each rheostat having a base plate carrying a resistance unit, means for holding said base plates in operative position, at least one of said base plates having means by Which it may be mounted to a support, each rheostat having a rotatable shaft carrying a brush for contacting with said resistance unit, said shafts being in axial alignment with the inner end of one terminating adjacent the outer end of the other, at least one of said shafts being hollow, an operating shaft positioned within. said hollow shaft with one end extending outwardly beyond the base plate of its associated rheostat and having operative means on said extending end and means on the inner end of said operating shaft for completing an independent connection with either of said rst mentioned shafts.

2. A rheostat mounting as set forth in claim l characterized in that said connection comprises, a pin transversely carried near the inner end of said operating shaft, and slots in the ends of said first mentioned shafts to receive said pin as said operating shaft is shifted longitudinally of its length.

3. A rheostat mounting as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that said connection comprises, a pin transversely carried near the inner end of saidy operating shaft, and slots in the ends of said first mentioned shafts to receive said pin as said operating shaft is shifted longitudinally of its length and further characterized in that said adjacent ends of the first mentioned shafts have springs operating in conjunction therewith with means for controlling the action of the springs in conjunction with the movement of said operating shaft and its said pin.

4. A rheostat mounting as set forth in claim l characterized in that said connection comprises, a pin transversely carried near the inner end of said operating shaft, and slots in the ends of said first mentioned shafts to receive said pin as said operating shaft is shifted longitudinally of its length, and further characterized in that a fixed cross member has a clearance hole therein to receive said adjacent ends of the first mentioned shafts, each shaft end slidably carrying a disc, the discs having oppostely positioned projectionsjthe projections of one disc extending toward those on the other disc, said cross member being slotted to allow said pin to pass therethrough to contact with said projections, the slot also acting to pass the projections on one side of the axis of the shafts, the .projection on the opposite side of said axis being located in one of the slots of its cooperative shaft and springs on each of said shafts adapted to be compressed by said` discs as they are moved by said pin.

5. Means for mounting a pair of rheostats so each may be independently operated by a common operating shaft having operative means attached thereto, said means including a mounting plate for each rheostat with means for fastening the mounting plate of one to the mounting plate of the other in tandem relation the latter plate having means for mounting it to a support, each mounting .plate carrying a resistance unit as well as means for supporting a shaft carrying a brush to engage its resistance units, said brush shafts terminating closely adjacent each other in axial alignment, an operating shaft extending through the brush shaft of the rheostat adapted to be mounted to a support, said operating shaft having means for drivingly engaging at will the ends of either brush shaft whereby either brush shaft may be turned independently of the other.

6. Means for mounting a pair of rheostats as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that the adjacent ends of the brush shafts are slotted while the inner end of the operating shaft has a transverse pin for entering said slots to drivingly engage either brush shaft.

7. Means for mounting a pair of rheostats as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that the adjacent ends of the brush shafts are slotted while the inner end of the operating shaft has a transverse pin for entering said slots to drivingly engage either brush shaft and means for preventing the pin from being transferred from one brush shaft to the other until a complete rotary movement is made of the brush shaft to which the pin is engaged.

8. Means for mounting a pair of rheostats as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that means are provided for controlling the operating shaft so that one brush shaft must be turned a full rotary movement before it can be operatively connected to the other brush shaft.

9. Means for mounting a pair of rheostats as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that means are provided for controlling the operating shaft so that a complete sequence of operation of either brush shaft must be made before the other brush shaft can be operated as and for the purposes set forth.

Cri

l0. Means for mounting a pair of rheostats as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that one rheostat has a relatively high current carrying capacity while the other has a relatively low current carrying capacity and further characterized in that means are .provided for preventing the low current capacity rheostat from being introduced into the circuit until the high current capacity rheostat is fully introduced into the circuit.

11. A pair of rheostats placed one behind the other and each having a shaft for moving a brush on its cooperative resistance unit, the shafts terminating in end to end relation, an operating shaft extending through one of said brush shafts and being slidable therein and having means located at its inner end for engaging either brush shaft end and means for limiting the engagement to only one of said brush shafts at a time and then only after a predetermined movement of the brush shaft to which the operating shaft may be connected.

12. The combination of two tandemly mounted rheostats lhaving contact brushes movable about a common axis in contact with their respective resistance units, the brush of one rheostat being carried by an insulator fastened to a shaft hollow throughout its length, while the brush of the other rheostat is carried by an insulator fastened to a shaft having at least its inner end hollow, both shaft ends being slotted and terminating closely adjacent each other, and an operating shaft positioned within said hollow shaft with means located at the terminus of all of said shafts to allow the operating shaft to be shifted into operative engagement through the medium of said shaft slots with either brush shaft While locking the other brush shaft in the position it was in when the shift from one to the other of said brush shafts was made.

13. An arrangement of rheostats as set forth in claim 12 further characterized in that said means includes, a cross pin in the end of said operating shaft, a rigidly fixed key plate having a hole therein to receive the ends of said brush shaft, the key plate having a slot from the shaft hole to its edge to allow an end of the pin to pass therethrough, a disc carried on each brush shaft and each having a lug positioned in alignment with said key plate slot and another lug positioned in a part of the brush shaft slot and a spring to cooperate with each disc to move it into locking position with the key plate on a given longitudinal movement of the operating shaft as and for the purpose described.

14. A tandem arrangement of devices each having an independent shaft for operating a revoluble member of each device, said shafts terminating beyond their respective revoluble members in end to end spaced relationship on the same axial center line, at least one of said shafts being hollow throughout its length, a driving shaft positioned within said hollow shaft and extending beyond its length for longitudinal and rotary movement therein and having a single operating means at its outer end for executing both of said movements and means located at the opposite end of said driving shaft between said devices for completing an independent driving connection with either of said first mentioned shafts.

15. Means for mounting a pair of rheostats as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that the adjacent ends of thebrush'shafts and the inner endof the operating shaft have cooperative slot and pin arrangements to drivingly engage each other and means for preventing such engagement being transferred from one brush shaft to the other until a complete rotary movement is made of the brush shaft to which a prior engagement has been made.

16. A pair of devices positioned one behind the other and each having an independent shaft for moving a revoluble member of said devices, the shafts terminating in end to end spaced relation, a driving shaft extending through one of said first mentioned shafts and being slidable therein and having means located at its inner end for engaging either of said first mentioned shafts and means for limiting the engagement to only one of said first mentioned shafts at a time and then only after a predetermined movement of the rst mentioned shaft to which the driving shaft may be connected.

17. A pair of devices positioned one behind the other and each having an independent shaft for moving a revoluble member of said devices, the shafts terminating beyond their respective revoluble members in end to end spaced rela- 8 tion, a single driving shaft extending all the Way through only one of said rst mentioned shafts and being slidable therein and having means located directly on and at its inner end or directly drivingly engaging at will the ends of either of said first mentioned shafts whereby either of these shafts may be turned independ ently of the other.

ROBERT H. WINCKLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 819,226 Heggem May 1, 1906 2,069,440 Hathorn Feb. 2, 1937 2,303,499 Rich Dec. 1, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 407,421 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1934 

